Chapter 5:: The Working Force & The Fallen
"Oh god…" Billy fell back on the couch. "I just sold my soul to the devil…"
"He is going to start work at the bar tomorrow." Bart grinned. "And so am I."
"Have you seen the diminutive clothes they make the ladies wear?" Billy sat up. "You're going to wear that perverted outfit, Miss Karina?"
"By perverted, Billy means, they show their ankles…" Bart whispered.
"Oh, what a sin!" Fei laughed.
"I do not appreciate being made fun of." Billy whimpered.
"Fei, as my new partner.." Brad shuddered. "You'll have to assist me with my working, but in other words, stay out of my face and don't touch anything that has any possibility of exploding or shooting any gases or flames…"
"Okey dokey!" Fei grinned.
"Sheesh… Just the words 'okey dokey' makes me think 'He's a loopy little nuisance'." Brad sighed.
"Fei's not a loopy little nuisance!" Elly whined.
"What did you get as a job, Elly?" Karina glanced at her.
"I am working at a daycare…" Elly smiled. "I love children, so it fit me well."
"You do seem to play a motherly role well, Elly. I'm sure you'll be very good at your job." Maria smiled.
"Thanks, Maria." Elly smiled back.
"Chu-Chu will work alongside Chu-Chu's love! Fei~Sama!" Chu-Chu hugged Fei.
"NO!" Brad screamed. "I'm not gonna have some pink ball of stupid fluff with me! And now that I have this thing, too?!"
"I'm Chu-Chu." Chu- Chu grumbled.
"Whatever." Brad rolled his eyes.
"Brad, don't be mean." Karina whispered. "It really is rude to call Chu-Chu a stupid ball of fluff…"
"I wasn't calling Chu-Chu a stupid ball of fluff." Brad said gently.
"…Then who were you… Brad!" Karina trailed off and then glared at Brad. "Fei didn't do anything to you, don't be so bitter!"
"I'm not bitter, I'm just realistic." Brad folded his arms.
"Whatever…" Karina sighed.
"Well, it is late, let us all turn in for the night. We must get up early tomorrow." Citan suggested.
"Uh… Since I am going to be working on your ship, I would rather work in peace. So, you guys can stay at my place and your other people can stay at Mrs. McAnderson's hotel. She owes me for fixing her car and plumbing for free."
"Well… that would work… thanks, Brad." Bart smiled.
"Eh, don't get touchy…" Brad shrugged. "Karina, you wanna head home?" Brad said gently. "That way we won't have to walk all the way back to Cimerion."
"All right. We'll see you guys later…"
"Wait up! Stay here, it's dangerous out there!" Bart said, standing up.
"We couldn't. We'd feel like we were intruding…" Karina whispered.
"Please. I don't want you two to get hurt! As our only hope for our ship to get fixed and our only hope for Billy to live a straight normal life,"
"Hey!!" Billy blushed.
"Hush you! I can't let you risk it!" Bart finished.
"Well… Brad? It's your call." Karina glanced at Brad.
"I… Guess we could… If you really want us to." Brad shrugged. "Sure, thanks, Bart." Brad smiled.
"Well, I'll see you dudes in the morning! Let's go play, Sigsipoo!" Sierra drug Sigurd off the couch. "Like old times!"
"Sierra!!" Sigurd blushed.
"Haha! Get your mojo on, Sig!" Bart whooped.
"Young master!!" Sigurd whined.
"That's just sick… Who would want to… With that angry gorilla of a woman?" Jessie folded his arms and leaned his head to the side.
"Sigurd would, that's who!! And I'm not an angry gorilla!" Sierra screamed.
"Sure, whatever, Sierra." Jessie rolled his eyes.
"Help me!!" Sigurd clawed at the floor and skidded across the floor as Sierra drug him into her room.
"Let's go see if you still have those cute little rings on your nippies!" Sierra grinned. "And you had better still have that tattoo that says 'Sierra's property, keep away' on your you-know-what!"
"GHHAAA!!" Sigurd wailed.
"Rings on your what?! Sig! What have you been hiding from me all these years?! Could there have been a wild child like me in there once upon a time?" Bart cackled.
"Oh my… Siggy, what did you do before I came along?" Billy blinked.
"Siggy was living in your house when he had them applied!!" Sierra laughed gently.
"What?!" Jessie stood up.
"I think I'll be going now, before things get bloody." Rico sighed and stood up.
"Me too." Maria agreed and left the room.
"Emeralda, it's time to go to bed now." Elly stood up.
"Right…" Emeralda nodded and followed Elly.
"Night, guys!" Fei stood up. "See' ya in the mornin'!"
"Goodnight, everyone." Billy sighed and stood up, leaving the room.
"I'll see you guys in the morning, I guess." Karina shrugged and went to her room.
"Night!" Brad made one of those 'homie G' like signs with his fingers and left the room.
"Better not look at her straight in the eyes, Sigurd, or she may attack. Goodnight!" Jessie laughed and left the room.
"Grr!" Sierra growled and threw Sigurd on the ground. "Go sleep alone, Siggy, I'm mad at you!" She went into her room and slammed the door.
"Well.. Goodnight, Sigurd, young one." Citan sighed and left the room.
"See you in the morning, Sig- meister!" Bart grinned and ran to his room.
"Goodnight." Sigurd shrugged.
:::::::::Later That night::::::::
"Ugh…" Elly sat up and rubbed her neck. "I'm so thirsty…" She whispered and looked over on the other two beds where Maria and Emeralda were sleeping peacefully. Chu-Chu was curled up against Emeralda. "Better be quiet." Elly blinked and stepped out of bed, tiptoeing to the door. She opened the large metal door and looked around. Everything was dark and quiet. "I guess all the guys are asleep…" She whispered to herself, and walked out of her room. She walked into the kitchen and flinched when her foot landed on a spot of the floor that groaned loudly every time someone stepped on it. "Smooth move, Van Houten" She hissed in her mind. Elly walked over to the refrigerator and opened the door. "Ugh… Bart's been in here already tonight…" She looked over the various containers that were half-sealed, a sign that Bart had been there. She took out the large water filter and pulled a glass out of the cabinet. Elly poured the cold water and then put the filter back into the fridge and shut the door quickly before she could see the chocolate cheesecake that Fei had finally managed to make right and eat it all. "Okay, Elly now don't step on the—" She said to herself and then she hit the part of the floor again and the groan echoed like a foghorn. "Crap…" She flinched and went out of the kitchen. "Maybe I'll go get some fresh air before I go back to bed…" She smiled and ran up to the elevator and went up to the top deck of the ship. Elly opened up the top hatch and felt the cool night breeze hit her face. She jumped up onto the top and stepped forward. "Huh?" She blinked as she saw a shadowy figure standing at the end of the ship. She walked closer and saw the slim figure, the long light hair. "Karina! Hey! What are you doing up here?" Elly whispered. Karina didn't reply or turn around. "Karina!" She said in her normal voice. The young girl turned around slowly, her eyes vague and cloudy. "Karina, what's wrong?" Elly whispered. Karina shut her eyes for a moment and when they opened, their rim was a light silver shade, and the once small flecks of silver in her eyes were now small lines.
"….Elhayam…." Karina's voice was softer, more melodic.
"Karina? What's wrong with you? Are you OK?" Elly said worriedly.
"….Aect… Mentel… Mosun… Elhayam." Karina's mouth curved into a slight smile.
"What?!" Elly stepped back.
"Aect mentel mosun, Elhayam." Karina whispered.
"I don't understand…" Elly whispered.
"…Mishi len donet" Karina shut her eyes and stepped back, so that her feet were only two inches away from the rim of the ship.
"Karina! Don't!" Elly screamed.
"Mishi." Karina sighed and fell back. Elly's eyes widened and she stepped back.
"Karina!!!!" She screamed. "HELP!!" She screamed as loudly as she could, but she knew none of the others would hear her. "No!" She knelt down. "Karina.." She walked up to the rim and looked down. "Where did you go?" She blinked.
"I believe you want this back." A boy's voice came from behind her.
"What?!" Elly spun around. There was a young man in a white cloak. He had a hood over his face. He held Karina in his arms, her body limp. "Who are you?!" Elly demanded. "Tell me!"
"…My name isn't important, woman. Just take Karina to your doctor. 'Aect mentel mosun' means 'help me please'. And 'Mishi len donet' means 'Goodbye, dearest world.'" He said gently and set Karina on the ground. "Go now!" He said sharply and disappeared.
"…Get back here!" Elly lifted Karina up so that Karina's arm was slung over her shoulders and Elly hung onto her hand and her waist. "…Come on, Karina!" Elly shook her head and ran back into the ship.
"Help me, please!" Elly ran into the middle of the hall and called out for anyone who would answer. "HELP!" She threw her head back and screamed.
"Elly! What in god's name are you doing?! It's 2:00!" Fei walked out of his room and blinked. "What's wrong with Karina?"
"What is it?!" Maria ran out. "Miss Karina!"
"…This had better be damn good." Rico stomped out of his room. "What?"
"What is the matter, young one? What is all the fuss about?!" Citan came out of his room, shoving his glasses on his face.
"Nice p.js, Doc." Bart came out of his room. "What's the big idea, Elly?"
"Where's the fire?!" Sigurd ran out of his room with a fire extinguisher.
"….What was my beauty sleep interrupted for?!" Sierra walked in with a bathrobe on and green stuff all over her face.
"Ah! Sea hag!" Bart screamed.
"Shut up!" Sierra punched Bart in the stomach.
"Yo! What's going on?!" Brad walked out and folded his arms. "Karina! What happened?!"
"Hey hey hey! Shut UP!" Jessie walked out with a shotgun.
"Dad… What's going on?" Billy walked out of his room in sweat pants and a dark blue T-shirt and he rubbed his eyes sleepily.
"Eew! Hey, Sierra, you're growing a mold!" Jessie lifted his shotgun. "I'm afraid all we can do now is shoot it. Put the thing out of its misery."
"Stupid…" Sierra growled.
"What happened to Karina?" Billy said sleepily.
"I don't know! She said something weird and then tried to fall off the side of the ship! Some kid in--"
"Wait a minute, Elly. She said something weird and then tried to fall off the ship?" Fei said slowly. "What exactly did she say?"
"Something in an language I've never heard. But some kid in a white cloak saved her! He said that she told me to help her and then she said goodbye dearest world and then he said to take her to Citan and then he left." Elly said quickly.
"Calm down, Elly." Fei whispered.
"Hmm… That seems more than strange… Alright, Billy, take her to the infirmary and lay her on one of the beds and I will be there in one second." Citan stood up and looked at Billy.
"Right, Citan." Billy nodded and lifted Karina up.
"I need to have a word with you, Elly and you, Brad." Citan said gently.
"Just as long as my sister is okay." Brad growled.
"She should be fine." Citan reassured.
"Okay, Karina, you just lay there, and Citan will be here soon to take care of you…" Billy laid her down on one of the beds. "I really hope you'll be okay, Karina." He whispered softly. "Why is my heart beating so fast? Why am I getting knots in my stomach?" Billy shook his head and dismissed it as a nervous reaction because of Karina's condition. "Y-You seem to be breathing okay." He said gently, and he put his hand on hers. "Maybe I could…" He whispered so softly. He shut his eyes slowly and leaned closer and laid his lips over hers, gently pushing closer. He opened his eyes slowly and pulled away, blushing. "What was that??" Billy breathed heavily and staggered back.
"Billy, good job, thank you." Citan walked in.
"A-Anytime." Billy said quickly and walked over to the door.
"You can go back to bed, if you want to." Citan smiled. "We will probably have a very interesting conversation once I get our little angel to wake up.
"I think I might stay awake and see her when she wakes up." Billy shrugged.
"I think she would like that." Citan smiled. "Now, let's see, Miss Karina… Miss Karina?" He blinked confusedly as Karina sat up and blinked.
"Eshi mect Tem?" She blinked.
"What?" Citan said gently.
"Could this be the strange language Elly was talking about??" Billy said, stepping back.
"Omuni mentel gen, Billy" She stood up and walked over to Billy.
"W-What?" Billy said nervously.
"Junei mentel, Billy, mosun." Karina wrapped her arms around him and snuggled up close to him.
"…Karina…" Billy said slowly.
"Mmm…" She sighed and shut her eyes, smiling gently.
"Karina!" Billy blushed.
"Huh?" Karina's eyes shot open and she staggered back. "What?"
"You're back to normal, it would seem." Citan said, folding his arms and leaning his head to the side.
"What do you mean?!" Karina said, her voice shrill.
"Elly found you on the roof of the Yggdrasil trying to commit suicide. And then when we got you down here, you tried to grope Billy." Citan smiled. "You don't remember any of it?"
"No, why should I, either? I was asleep!" Karina walked up against the door.
"…Right. I think that maybe you should stay home today, we'll go to work." Citan shrugged.
"No way! It's partly my fault you guys have to earn this money to fix your ship!" Karina folded her arms.
"Maybe you should… Ask your parent or legal guardian." Citan said gently.
"Brad would be my 'legal guardian'." Karina grumbled. "And he'll let me go!"
"No, no, absolutely not!" Brad folded his arms.
"But Brad!!" Karina stomped her foot on the ground.
"She's like a five-year-old." Bart blinked.
"Yeah, she would go well with Billy, you little whiny brat." Jessie grinned at Billy.
"Dad, just shut up, okay?" Billy grumbled.
"…Karina, you almost got killed according to Elly and then you were speaking in a language nobody understood!" Brad said sharply.
"At least I don't have a cold!" Karina laughed gently.
"…I think almost committing suicide without knowing it is worse than a cold." Brad frowned.
"You know this could be an acute case of sleepwalking…" Citan said quietly. "Drawn from past experiences and emotions or memories."
"She's never tried to jump off a ship!" Brad turned to Citan.
"But she will have Billy and Bart with her almost all day, so if anything bad happens, they'll be there." Elly piped up.
"I'll be there too!" Jessie grinned.
"I don't think you're a very competent source of 'baby sitting'." Fei said gently.
"Baby sitting?" Karina laughed. "So now, I'm some baby that needs to be watched by those two?!" She pointed at Bart and Billy. "No offense, guys, but I think I don't need these guys watching me like I'm some toddler that doesn't know how to tie her own shoes!"
"Do you?" Bart blinked.
"…Of course I do! But that's beside the point! Brad! Lemme go lemme go LEMME GO!" Karina yelled.
"I sense a tantrum coming on." Sigurd sighed.
"You're staying home and that's final!" Brad said, pointing at the door. "Now go to your room!"
"Hmph!" Karina stomped over to the door. "I hate you, you meanie!!" She ran out of the room.
"Well, if that wasn't a sitcom moment, I don't know what is." Bart smiled.
"Well, it's 6:30… And I'm not too tired. What say we go have breakfast and then head to Cimerion?" Citan suggested.
"That's a good idea, Citan." Elly nodded and smiled.
"Whoo! I am pumped! Bring on the work!!" Bart ran down the hill. "Where's your house, Brad?" Bart turned to him and slung his red backpack around.
"Keep that away from me Bart!" Billy dodged his backpack.
"It's just over there!" Brad pointed at a large white house.
"Whoa! Its cool!" Bart laughed. "Race ya', Fei!"
"…Fine!" Fei threw his backpack into Rico's arms and followed Bart.
"Let's see… 243-6678…" Karina pulled out a white cell phone and dialed a number.
"What's that for?" Billy turned to her.
"You'll see." Karina whispered.
A few feet back:::
"Huh?" Brad looked down as his cell phone started playing Toccata. "Hello?"
"Hehe…" Karina pressed the send button. It rang for a second and then she grinned as the voice on the other end said 'Hello'. "AHHH!!! She screamed into the mouthpiece.
"Ouch!" Billy plugged his ears.
"Ahh! Karina!!" Brad's voice came from a few feet back.
"Hehe… Serves him right, that creep." Karina laughed, closing the cell phone.
"Yes! I beat you, man!!" Bart laughed wildly.
"You did not!" Fei yelled.
"Yeah, he's right. Neither of you beat me. I won!" Sierra grinned. She was perched on a tree branch eating an apple. "Apple?" She held out a bowl of fruit.
"Ah!" Bart screamed.
"You must've cheated!" Fei pointed at her.
"No, I'm just not being drug down by those fat skulls you two boys have." Sierra grinned.
"What did you get as a job, Sierra?" Fei asked gently.
"…I uh… Am working with Sigsipoo!" Sierra pointed at Sigurd.
"You doing janitorial work at some school?" Sigurd folded his arms.
"…Eew!" Sierra cringed.
"…You DID get a job, didn't you, Sierra?" Citan asked.
"Well… I uh… It was 2 beers for a buck night at the bar!" Sierra whined. "Can you blame me?!"
"You wrecked my ship and you won't even help get it fixed?!" Bart yelled. "Why didn't you get a job?"
"Fine! I'm working with Sigsipoo as a … Janitor.. Ugghh.." Sierra cringed.
"…Well, I have to stay home guys, sorry." Karina whispered and pulled out her cell phone and pressed the redial button.
"Hello?" Brad sighed.
"AHH!" Karina screamed into the mouthpiece again. "I'll take your stuff to your rooms, you guys go on ahead." Karina smiled.
"Are you sure, Karina?' Billy said, blinking.
"Sure. I gotta do something! So, I'll probably go do that and then take a swim…" Karina sighed.
"You have a POOL?!" Bart whined. "I don't wanna go to work!"
"Calm down and take responsibility, Young One." Citan whispered.
"…Wait! Before we go, I have to set a few ground rules for you boys and some for you ladies." Brad lined them up.
"Like what sort of 'ground rules'?" Fei eyed Brad.
"…Like 1) Don't touch my sister." Brad said and Karina rolled her eyes and sighed. "2) Don't touch my car. 3) Don't touch my sister…" Brad continued and Bart wrote down the rules. "…4) Don't touch my food. 5) Don't touch my sister. 6) Better not touch anything I own, including the hair. 7) Don't think about doing anything PG, PG13, R and especially X rated with my sister."
"…Hey Billy, just wait until he's asleep, then I'll help you and Karina sneak out so you can do something PG, PG13, R, or X rated in his car with his food there, too." Bart nudged Billy.
"Bart!" Billy blushed.
"You guys can swim in the pool, or the hot tub or use the mega soundsystem if you want. They are mine, not Brad's." Karina smiled and pulled out her cell phone and pressed redial.
"…Ugh.. Hello?" Brad rolled his eyes.
"AGHHH!!!" Karina screamed shrilly and then put the cell phone away.
"She doesn't take things too well, does she?" Sierra asked Sigurd.
"I guess not." Sigurd shrugged.
"Well, I should be off. My new partner Ziggy shall be expecting me there early!" Citan smiled and walked away.
"Why did Ziggy get the smart one?" Brad looked over at Fei, who was looking around in awe.
"We should get going, Bart." Billy turned to the road.
"Hold on!" Bart said.
"Boy let's go, he's gonna be late and we don't want to be late." Jessie grinned.
"Right, Dad. See you guys later." Billy smiled and left with Jessie.
"See you later, I must get to the daycare." Elly smiled and left.
"Let's get going, Fei" Brad rolled his eyes. "C'mon, we'll take my car." He walked to the garage.
"Come along, Sierra." Sigurd drug her off.
"Ohh!! WAHH!!" Sierra screamed.
"They were looking for two people to come and start work ASAP." Sigurd grinned.
"NO!" Sierra whined.
"…Where are you going, Rico?" Karina looked at him.
"I'm helping set up the area for some Cimerion Tournament for next Saturday." Rico said gently and left.
"…Well, that's everyone." Karina smiled and looked around. "I'll get these inside and get to work." She grinned. "Brad can't keep me locked up in this house all day!" She picked up a few of the backpacks and threw them in the door and then got the rest. "Hehe!" She shut the door and walked down the path slowly.
"Well, you're off now, thanks Karina, I'm so glad you're back." A woman smiled.
"I'm glad I'm back, too. Anyway, I'll see you tomorrow, okay?" Karina smiled and walked up to the door.
"Alright, have a good day." She said after Karina.
"Time to get into my other uniform and get to the bar! I wonder how Billy and Bart are doing…"
"Bart, no!" Billy grabbed a plate of food from slipping off the tray. "Why are you being so careless?!"
"Man, Billy, you are taking this job WAY too seriously." Bart grinned and balanced the tray.
"The manager pays us good money to do our jobs and I am doing my job!" Billy scolded.
"What exactly is a flamin' special?" A man leaned over on the bar.
"It's a little bit of scotch mixed with bourbon and mixed by lighting the top on fire!" Jessie folded his arms.
"Oh… Can you add a little white wine with it?" The man asked.
"Sure, whatever, is that what you want?" Jessie said, sounding rather agitated.
"Oh, no, I'll have a bloody mary." The man laughed.
"Try living with him." A young man muttered.
"Okay, I'll be right back with your drinks." Billy smiled and walked towards the kitchen.
"Whoa!" Bart walked by and stumbled slightly.
"Bart!!" Billy grabbed him and steadied him.
"Hey, guys!" Karina ran in.
"Karina? Aren't you supposed to be at home?" Billy blinked.
"Shut up, Billy, you got drinks to get!" Bart shoved him out of the way. "I'll get this one."
"No, I'm coming to work!" Karina walked past Bart.
"Wait wait wait wait, girl!" Bart grabbed her by the collar.
"What, Bart?" She sighed.
"…Your brother would have my head on a platter if he knew I was letting you work, Karina." Bart folded his arms.
"Brad won't even know the difference! We'll get home long before he does!" Karina grinned and walked past Bart.
"Karina, I don't think you should be working, what with last night." Billy walked by and stopped long enough to whisper to her.
"Billy, I'm fine." Karina said, obviously not caring about his warning.
"…I know you're fine, but you should still stay at home just in case." Billy walked back up to her and folded his arms. "You know how bad I would feel if I knew you got hurt and I couldn't help you."
"…I know you're mad about me, Billy." Karina said playfully. "And that's so cute! But I'm fine, and nothing is going to happen, trust me!"
"Wha?!" Billy turned to her and blushed.
****************
"Alright, Fei, pull the lever." Brad called.
"Which one?!" Fei looked down at Brad.
"…The big red one, Fei. Is that simple enough for you?" Brad rolled out from under the car and glared at Fei.
"This one?" Fei pulled a small red lever.
"No, Fei! Not that-" Brad stood up as Fei pulled the lever. The car slammed back down on the ground and oil spilled out of the bottom.
"…Was that the right one?" Fei blinked.
"Grr…. No Fei, It wasn't." Brad said slowly. He looked over at Ziggy and Citan. "Hey, Ziggy!!"
"Yeah, Mon?" He turned to Brad and grinned.
"…I was thinking. You wanna change partners for a minute?" Brad suggested and grinned, pointing at Fei who was pulling levers and pushing buttons, trying to get the car to go back up on the lift.
"Uh, I don't think so, Mon, that guy doesn't seem very competent." Ziggy sighed.
"Well, Citan can't be a very good partner! I mean he like never shuts up, right?! Fei is very quiet! And he's a good help!" Brad put his arm on Ziggy's shoulder. "…And this is just between you and me, but he's been stealing money from you, dude."
"Not nearly as much money as you steal from me, Brad." Ziggy glared at him.
"…That's beside the point!" Brad laughed.
"Well, I think I'm doing fine with Citan as my partner. He can fix a car in half the time it takes me." Ziggy grinned.
"Yeah, right." Brad sighed.
"Isn't it about time for our lunch break, right, Brad?" Fei grabbed his rumbling stomach.
"…I guess, hey, Ziggy, we're gonna go eat lunch wanna come with us?" Brad turned to him.
"Well, I guess, you want to come, Citan?" Ziggy turned to Citan, who was wiping his grimy face and putting his glasses back on.
"Huh? Oh, of course, young ones, I'd be happy to." Citan smiled.
"Yo, Mon, does 'dis guy have some problem with saying my name?" Ziggy folded his arms. "What is up with 'tis 'young one' crud?"
"He is just like that with people younger than him." Fei grinned.
"Well, I am 23 years old, and he cannot 'all me a 'young one'!" Ziggy growled.
"Don't let it get to ya." Fei rolled his eyes. "Anyway, let's go."
"Why don't we go have lunch at the bar?" Citan suggested.
"Yeah, drop in on Billy, Jessie and Bart and see how they are holding out. Rico said he was gonna go there for lunch around 2:30… He should be there." Fei nodded.
"Alright, let's go there for lunch." Brad walked over to the door.
****************
"Hey, Rico man! I'll take your order!" Bart walked up to him.
"…You are incompetent, get Billy." Rico shoved him out of the way.
"Hey, I'll take the next one and- eep! Rico!" Karina walked up to them and then hid behind Billy. "He didn't see me, right?"
"Hey, Karina. I don't care if you are working or not, just don't let your insane brother catch you." Rico sat back.
"G- Gotcha." Karina nodded and left.
"So, Rico, what can I get you?" Billy pushed Bart out of the way.
"Man, Billy takes this job to heart!" Bart whispered.
"…Well, he just likes to see that something is done correctly and quickly, I suppose." Karina walked by.
"Hey, waiter!" Fei walked in and pointed at Bart. "SERVE ME!"
"…Ugh, I see one of those stupid annoying customers." Jessie folded his arms.
"Hey, Fei, just cause I'm your waiter gives you no right to boss me around!" Bart walked up to him. "Let's see, one whiny brat, one king kong, one genius and one…. Err… dude with a heavy accent." Bart pointed at them. "I think we got enough room for you, come on." Bart made a gesture for them to follow him and he walked to a booth where Rico was sitting. "Sit and tell me what you want to drink, guys."
"Just…. Water." Citan blinked.
"Cherry coke, Bart, you know what I always drink!" Fei folded his arms.
"Billy already got mine." Rico growled. "I was smart and got someone that can read."
"Give me a coke." Brad ordered.
"Ugh, well, fine, Mr. I Rule All." Bart muttered.
"I'll just have tea." Ziggy grinned.
"Right, got it." Bart nodded. "And I'll be back with your drinks in a minute." He threw menus on the table and walked off.
"Hey, you guys didn't come visit me!" Jessie walked up and sat down next to Citan. "Ahh, thank god I'm on break."
"…Here, Rico is your-- Oh, hey guys, did Bart already get your order?" Billy walked up.
"Yeah, hey Billy-man!" Fei did a thumbs up sign.
"Hi… Dad, you're on break?" Billy set down Rico's drink.
"Yeah, and so are you, boy, pull up a seat!" Jessie smacked the spot next to him.
"…Well, I guess rush hour is over, considering you guys are the only ones here, I guess I could take a break." Billy shrugged and sat down next to Jessie.
"Hey, guys, I got your drinks and I'll take your orders now if- Billy! What are you doing?!" Bart set down the drinks folded his arms. "You were the one who was preaching about how important it is to work hard!"
"I took care of my last order already, I'm done until more people come in or until I get off at 4:30." Billy smiled.
"…Grr… Oh, well, gimme your orders, and then I'll just hang with you guys until they are ready!" Bart growled and pulled a pen out of his braid.
"Sigsipoo! Don't make me go back to that crap ridden brat teaching establishment!!" Sierra whined as the two walked in.
"…Sierra, you need to learn how to have an honest job, not being a mercenary." Sigurd said gently.
"Take your honest job and shove it up your butt, honey dew." Sierra said sarcastically.
"Billy, take that one, you're off break!" Bart yelled.
"Yeah, sure, Bart." Billy stood up. "Hey, Siggy, how's the job going?" Billy walked up to Sigurd.
"Alright." Sigurd said simply.
"It's living hell! Little brats running around pulling my braids and calling me an old hag! I got in trouble cause I got pissed and hit one of 'em with the mop that had cleaned up their disgusting amazingly rainbow colored puke! The little brat puked and then laughed at me and said 'clean it up, monkey woman!' I am going to kill the next kid that says I look like their 55 year-old mother!!" Sierra screamed.
"Oh, I see the customer is a banshee. Sorry, but we don't serve monsters here." Bart walked out of the kitchen.
"I am not in the mood, jerk!" Sierra kicked him in the shin.
"God, back off, mad cow." Bart flinched.
"…Bart, get back in there. C'mon, Siggy, wanna sit with Fei and Citan and Brad and…. Ziggy?" Billy walked him over to them.
"C'mon, pull up a seat!" Jessie grinned.
"Well…. Alright." Sigurd sat down next to Jessie and slumped.
"Uh…. Sig… No offense or anything but… Could you scoot down a little, ya kinda stink." Jessie said gently.
"Wouldn't YOU if you were cleaning toilets all day?" Sigurd folded his arms and scooted further away from Jessie.
"Poor kid. I was serving drinks to guys who don't know a thing about alcohol." Jessie growled.
"Okay! I'm back! Now give me your orders or you ain't getting' any food!" Bart grinned.
"….Is there anything on this menu that ISN'T slathered in grease?" Citan blinked.
"Possibly the salad, but it's my first day, I wouldn't know." Billy piped up.
"Get in the kitchen, boy!" Bart pointed at the kitchen door.
"Whatever." Billy rolled his eyes and left.
"Alright…. I'll just have a salad…. With… ranch dressing." Citan smiled.
"And for you, Fei?" Bart smiled rather sarcastically.
"…What do YOU like?!" Fei leaned over.
"I work here, I HAVE to say everything is good. But I had… Uh… That stuff for lunch today, and it was okay, I guess." Bart pointed at a picture.
"Okay, I'll have that…" Fei threw the menu at him. "Go, slave monkey, go!" Fei yelled.
"Get me the steak, kid, and I want it medium, okay?" Brad glared at Bart.
"Got it, King Kong." Bart glared back at him.
"…Give me the steak too, Mon, and Medium rare!" Ziggy grinned.
"Whatever, and Billy'll get Sierra and Sig's." Bart grinned. "Cause they are HIS customers."
"Back off, Bart." Billy walked up. "What do you two wanna drink?"
"Tea." Sigurd smiled at the boy.
"Jessiah! You know my 'Sierra-Era' special! Go make it!" Sierra grinned at Jessie.
"Oh, yes, that stuff. I swear you're nuts for wanting something THAT hard before you go back to work." Jessie stood up. "Go get that sissy Sigurd's 'tea', boy!" Jessie slapped Billy on the back.
"Hey, I got one- AHH!" Karina walked out and saw Brad and then ran behind Billy, dropping the food on the table gently.
"Ahh… Lunch." Rico grinned and grabbed the plate.
"Was that…. Karina?!" Brad stood up.
"…He didn't see me, did he?" Karina whispered in Billy's ear, making the boy shiver.
"…I'm pretty sure he did…" Pink slowly crept up Billy's face. Karina slipped her hand under his jacket and ran her hand up his back. She grabbed his shoulder. She took her other hand and pulled his arm out of the sleeve. With one hand she held Billy's arm behind his back and with the other she slipped her arm down his sleeve and waved slightly.
"…Uh… hey, guys…. Umm… There's no… Karina here… Haha, nope." Karina lowered her voice slightly. Citan smiled and Fei snickered. Billy rolled his eyes and sighed, trying to hide the dark pink shade on his face.
"…That's just creepy." Sierra blinked.
"Get over here, young lady!" Brad grabbed Karina and pulled her to the side, almost ripping Billy's jacket off.
"H-Hi, Brad!" Karina giggled innocently. "Want some…. Hehe… Appetizers? We have…" Karina trailed off.
"Kari…. I thought I told you NOT to go to work today, because of last night." Brad growled.
"I felt fine, and I didn't wanna be stuck in that house all day by myself!" Karina folded her arms.
"We have two dogs a kitten and a POOL for god's sake! Use those for entertainment!" Brad looked at his little sister and tapped his foot impatiently.
"How did you take care of them when you were staying with us?" Citan blinked.
"Our next door neighbor comes over to feed them while we are away. Brad was gone on a job for a few days, so she was taking care of them, and she doesn't know we are back. We're gonna have to go get them in a little while." Karina looked over at Citan.
"I see." Citan nodded.
"Hey, guys! I got your foooooood!" Bart pranced up. "You'll have to answer some questions first! One! Who's the hottest king in the world?"
"…Certainly not you." Fei teased.
"I'll ignore that, acknowledging the fact that the person who spoke the words is a complete nincompoop, so being the sweet person that I am, I will not entertain his ignorance." Bart growled.
"…. Yeah, right Bart." Billy smiled.
"Question numero dos!" Bart grinned. "Who does Billy have the hots for?!"
"Better not be my sister…" Brad glared at Billy.
"I know! It's Karina right?!" Fei grinned.
"FEI!" Billy blushed.
"I speak the truth, dude." Fei grinned.
"Get a better vocabulary other that 'dude' and 'yo'…" Billy whispered.
And I don't have the…. 'Hots'… For anyone."
"Give us our food before I shove this fork up your belly button and twist it in." Brad said, gently poking his fork into the table.
"I saw Karina and Billy sleeping together this morning." Bart grinned.
"……..Excuse me?" Brad said gently, as the fork drove into table quickly.
"Hehehehehe… So they didn't tell you?!" Bart cackled.
"What would they NEED to tell me?" Brad winced at the thought.
"BART! You know we didn't-" Billy started.
"Shshsh!" Bart shushed. "Quiet little bowl-cutted one. Now! As I was saying, I came in this morning and they were like groping each other." Bart grinned.
"…Groping?!" Brad screamed.
"Brad! N-n-no! We weren't!!" Billy whined.
"…NO DUH, Brad, do you think I'm a hussy or something?" Karina folded her arms.
"Of course not!" Brad lowered his tone slightly.
"Well, good!" Karina hissed.
"…I have to go kill myself now…" Billy walked off, blushing.
"…Brad, don't overreact so much." Karina whacked Brad upside the head.
"Not the hair!
"Man, you could gut someone with that hair! It's cool!" Bart pointed at Brad's spiky blue hair.
"I styled his hair…" Karina smiled.
"Actually Kajumei ruined it and then you fixed it." Brad corrected.
"Yeah, that's right." Karina shrugged.
"…You guys, you know we'll never earn enough money soon… It'll be almost another four weeks on our salary…" Bart sighed.
"…You do realize I'm not helping them for four weeks, Karina?" Brad glanced at her.
"Oh… It is going to take a lot of time maybe there is something else we could do." Karina whispered.
"…I know!" Jessie grinned.
"Jesiah, I know what you are thinking and we are not getting drunk and playing our luck at a casino, no matter how much you want it, it's not going to happen." Citan sighed.
"Ohh…" Jessie sighed.
"Hey, Rico, you said you were working for some tournament?" Bart looked up.
"Yeah, so?"
"What tournament?" Citan looked up.
"…He must be talking about the Cimerion Champions fighting tournament held every year on the opening day of the fair." Karina blinked.
"You mean the one Kajumei has been sweeping every time for the past six years?" Brad looked at her.
"Yeah." Karina looked at Brad.
"…Is there prize money offered for the victor of the games?" Citan asked.
"Normally. Hehe, last time, Kajumei and I went out on this shopping spree and I got this cute pair of jeans and… Nevermind, it's a long story. We got a lot of stuff. But one normally gets around 700,000 for winning, it's pretty good reward money." Karina smiled.
"I think I'm ready to… Go home…" Billy slumped.
"What's up with you?" Bart looked at him.
"I couldn't sleep very well last night because of certain snoring sleep-singing prince-pirates who shall remain nameless." Billy glared at Bart. "Who could that possibly have been, BART?"
"Fei, I thought I gave you breathe-right strips so you DIDN'T snore!" Bart glared at Fei.
"…Oops." Fei blinked.
"…Boys, please. Miss Karina, tell me more about this tournament." Citan shut his eyes and sighed.
"Well… It is being held next Saturday… Around 6:30 P.M.… After that the Champion and everyone else goes to the fair and then we all watch the fireworks. It's really fun!" Karina said gently. "…But other than that… Sorry."
"…Hmm… Fei!" Citan turned to Fei.
"Yeah, Doc?" Fei blinked.
"Do yo think… We could get you to enter the tournament and win the prize money…?" Citan asked.
"…YEAH! Fei! C'mon!! Be nice!!" Bart looked up and grinned at Fei. "PLLLLLEEEEASE?!"
"…Uhh… Guys… I've done all the special stuff! Why can't we make Rico or Bart do anything?!" Fei sat up.
"Be-cause! You are the most multitalented of us all!" Bart grinned. "Who else can knock a guy out with our hair?"
"Or balance a flaming spoon on his tongue and juggle chain saws at the same time?" Billy added.
"I CAN do those, can't I?" Fei smiled and flipped his ponytail playfully. "But you can braid your hair with your toes, Bart!"
"Ooo! I'll braid them to death! Come on, Fei, you're the only one who can fight in the way we need!" Bart rolled his eyes.
"I can fight like Fei, too." Citan said gently.
"You might put your back out, Citan."
"Why I never!" Citan yelled.
"Hehe." Bart grinned.
"I just… Don't want to, okay?" Fei said gently. "It may sound like I'm a sissy, but, if that Kajumei chick is in it, she might kick my butt, I mean, she's won, what, six times?"
"…So, you're backing down cause you're scared of a GIRL?" Bart rolled his eyes. "Fei, Fei, Fei…"
"Kajumei isn't just a GIRL, she is a champion FIGHTER." Karina corrected.
"And she probably WOULD kick your sissy butt, kid, but she ain't in this year's competition, cause she's gone visiting her sick Granny." Brad folded his arms.
"Kajumei doesn't HAVE a granny…" Karina thought and shut her eyes.
"See, Fei? You could enter and get us money!!" Bart hit Fei's shoulder and smiled. "Save us all the trouble of working our frickin' butts off!"
"…I guess… I could… SURE!" Fei said slowly and then stood up. "I'll show them!" Fei looked down. "I have to go train!"
"GO!" Brad grinned. "Great. Now I won't have to deal with this kid."
"I'm sorry that I couldn't help you, Brad." Fei said gently.
"Won't Elly be kinda mad about this?" Karina said, standing up from the chair. "I mean… you didn't even ask her if-"
"Elly don't order my man FEI around, right Fei?" Bart grinned and punched Fei in the shoulder.
"O-Of course…" Fei said slowly.
"Of course? That ain't manly, Fei." Bart laughed.
"I mean.. 'Hell yeah, dude!' Happy?"
"Ugh… Fei, proper grammar is-" Citan said, but Bart cut him off.
"Hell yeah! Now let's go train! Okay?!"
"O..Kay…" Fei said slowly.
"There isn't any CONFIDENCE in that!"
"Bart, you still have work to do, you get off at 4:30!" Billy said.
"Tut tut! CONFIDENCE!"
"OK?"
"Scare me!"
"OK!!"
"Better…"
"Yeah!!!" Fei yelled and jumped out of the booth.
"If you ask me the whole idea is stupid." Billy said gently.
"Manners, boy." Jessie poked Billy in the ribs.
"…." Billy glared at Jessie.
"B-But… You guys have jobs, you can't just run off like that, can you?" Karina said, trying to get their attention.
"Okay Fei, we gotta goooooo!!!" Bart yelled and ran out of the bar, dragging Fei along with him.
"Shouldn't we have some form of adult supervision for those two? I mean.. If it were up to them, training would be taping Fei to one of the propellers of the Yggdrasil and turning it on and seeing how long Fei can last before he throws up…" Rico said quietly.
"…I do believe they will find that long meditation is a good training technique. It clears the mind." Citan smiled.
"If it were Bart and Fei meditating, it would take a few months to clear their minds of all the garbage in there…" Rico added.
"I am afraid I must concur with you, Rico." Citan chuckled.
"True dat, yo." Ziggy grinned.
"In case you didn't NOTICE Ziggy, you're supposed to be at work… Leave." Karina pointed at the door.
"B-But I just got my food!" Ziggy whined.
"GO!" Karina growled.
"Mmm mean lady. You'd better go out with me later." Ziggy stood up. "It would do a lot for my reputation if a popular girl like you would go out with me!"
"….Out." Karina squinted.
"That's right, Ziggy." Brad stood up and pushed Ziggy out the door.
"But if you just-" Ziggy tried to say as he stuck his head back in the door.
"ZIGGY." Karina and Brad snapped.
"Point across, sheesh." Ziggy pouted and left.
"Later." Brad winked and pushed Billy out of the doorway.
"Excuse me for trying to keep the door open for you…" Billy sneered. Karina sat up from her spot and turned to Billy and looked down.
"Hey, Billy?" Karina walked up to him.
"Yeah…?"
"Can we talk about something??" Karina whispered and took him behind the door.
"Huh?" Billy looked around and back up at Karina. "What is it?"
"Be quiet." Karina whispered. "OK, the thing is…"
"…?"
Karina sighed, leaned against the wall and looked at Billy. "The men who are after me are after me for my blood, as you know… They took me when I was 15, and I told Brad to not worry about me… I told him to stay back and that they would let me go… They didn't, of course, but when I did get sent out.. I guess to attack you guys and I was saved by you… After I woke up I remembered so much about everything. I heard them talking- them being the men that took me- and they were talking about some sort of Day of the Sublime Light… Something about three pillars, and something about an RN blood type…"
"RN isn't a blood type, Karina…"
"I know I know!" Karina yelled. "The thing is… They said I have the RN blood type… and that two others have it… And most likely Brad has it too… So that leaves one more…" Karina said in a hushed voice. "A person I got to know on that ship, Zeke, told me that this blood type is connected to the -blessed creatures- and that this whole operation is code-named Operation: RN B-C Kuluxx-Z 03 and I don't know if that has any significance but…"
"Wait… Kuluxx?" Billy stopped her.
"Yeah… why?"
"I remember hearing something about a Kuluxx in my research of the Ethos religion… But then It can't be real… Ethos was a front… But what was it I read about that I heard that phrase before…?? Kuluxx…"
"I don't know… but Billy… Lately I've been feeling some sort of pulling sensation from inside… From my heart… and these dreams I've been having… People whispering in some unknown language… bloody feathers… black feathers… silver feathers… I don't know what any of it means and it's scaring me…"
"Have you talked to Brad about it, Karina?" Billy whispered.
"No! …Well I will… But I haven't yet…" Karina said gently. "I will when we talk later."
"Karina… Have you had any other dreams??"
"… Yes… but… That one I can't make any sense of at all." She looked up and faced his ice-blue eyes.
"What?"
"It had… Someone whispering in the unknown language, then another saying 'All you see, is not always what is really seen… Follow your heart… Follow the threads of time… Run your own life the way you want… For when the Mirror's reflections appear, your end is near… And the wings of time will beat, steadily dying down, the future will be nothing but the bloody earth and one pillar of light will be gone, one pillar of darkness will be lost, one pillar of the soul will slip into the darkness of the human soul…' and that's about it…"
"Karina…" Billy trailed off. "Maybe you should talk to Citan about this… and of course your brother…" He turned to her and looked down. "It may be best…"
"Hey lovebirds!!" Bart's booming voice broke the silence and the door swung open.
"Bart?? I thought you left!" Karina blinked.
"Hah! You gotta come help me train Fei!!" Bart grinned. "Come on come on!"
"Bart…" Karina and Billy moaned.
The three exited the dark room, and a deeper shadow filled it. A young man with a long white robe folded his arms and leaned against the wall, flashing his dark gray eyes at the door and glaring into the darkness. "Ashes to ashes, dust to dust… The year of death has begun… and now all hell will break loose… But can these stupid little children save us…? I don't trust their strength."
"Oh god…" Billy fell back on the couch. "I just sold my soul to the devil…"
"He is going to start work at the bar tomorrow." Bart grinned. "And so am I."
"Have you seen the diminutive clothes they make the ladies wear?" Billy sat up. "You're going to wear that perverted outfit, Miss Karina?"
"By perverted, Billy means, they show their ankles…" Bart whispered.
"Oh, what a sin!" Fei laughed.
"I do not appreciate being made fun of." Billy whimpered.
"Fei, as my new partner.." Brad shuddered. "You'll have to assist me with my working, but in other words, stay out of my face and don't touch anything that has any possibility of exploding or shooting any gases or flames…"
"Okey dokey!" Fei grinned.
"Sheesh… Just the words 'okey dokey' makes me think 'He's a loopy little nuisance'." Brad sighed.
"Fei's not a loopy little nuisance!" Elly whined.
"What did you get as a job, Elly?" Karina glanced at her.
"I am working at a daycare…" Elly smiled. "I love children, so it fit me well."
"You do seem to play a motherly role well, Elly. I'm sure you'll be very good at your job." Maria smiled.
"Thanks, Maria." Elly smiled back.
"Chu-Chu will work alongside Chu-Chu's love! Fei~Sama!" Chu-Chu hugged Fei.
"NO!" Brad screamed. "I'm not gonna have some pink ball of stupid fluff with me! And now that I have this thing, too?!"
"I'm Chu-Chu." Chu- Chu grumbled.
"Whatever." Brad rolled his eyes.
"Brad, don't be mean." Karina whispered. "It really is rude to call Chu-Chu a stupid ball of fluff…"
"I wasn't calling Chu-Chu a stupid ball of fluff." Brad said gently.
"…Then who were you… Brad!" Karina trailed off and then glared at Brad. "Fei didn't do anything to you, don't be so bitter!"
"I'm not bitter, I'm just realistic." Brad folded his arms.
"Whatever…" Karina sighed.
"Well, it is late, let us all turn in for the night. We must get up early tomorrow." Citan suggested.
"Uh… Since I am going to be working on your ship, I would rather work in peace. So, you guys can stay at my place and your other people can stay at Mrs. McAnderson's hotel. She owes me for fixing her car and plumbing for free."
"Well… that would work… thanks, Brad." Bart smiled.
"Eh, don't get touchy…" Brad shrugged. "Karina, you wanna head home?" Brad said gently. "That way we won't have to walk all the way back to Cimerion."
"All right. We'll see you guys later…"
"Wait up! Stay here, it's dangerous out there!" Bart said, standing up.
"We couldn't. We'd feel like we were intruding…" Karina whispered.
"Please. I don't want you two to get hurt! As our only hope for our ship to get fixed and our only hope for Billy to live a straight normal life,"
"Hey!!" Billy blushed.
"Hush you! I can't let you risk it!" Bart finished.
"Well… Brad? It's your call." Karina glanced at Brad.
"I… Guess we could… If you really want us to." Brad shrugged. "Sure, thanks, Bart." Brad smiled.
"Well, I'll see you dudes in the morning! Let's go play, Sigsipoo!" Sierra drug Sigurd off the couch. "Like old times!"
"Sierra!!" Sigurd blushed.
"Haha! Get your mojo on, Sig!" Bart whooped.
"Young master!!" Sigurd whined.
"That's just sick… Who would want to… With that angry gorilla of a woman?" Jessie folded his arms and leaned his head to the side.
"Sigurd would, that's who!! And I'm not an angry gorilla!" Sierra screamed.
"Sure, whatever, Sierra." Jessie rolled his eyes.
"Help me!!" Sigurd clawed at the floor and skidded across the floor as Sierra drug him into her room.
"Let's go see if you still have those cute little rings on your nippies!" Sierra grinned. "And you had better still have that tattoo that says 'Sierra's property, keep away' on your you-know-what!"
"GHHAAA!!" Sigurd wailed.
"Rings on your what?! Sig! What have you been hiding from me all these years?! Could there have been a wild child like me in there once upon a time?" Bart cackled.
"Oh my… Siggy, what did you do before I came along?" Billy blinked.
"Siggy was living in your house when he had them applied!!" Sierra laughed gently.
"What?!" Jessie stood up.
"I think I'll be going now, before things get bloody." Rico sighed and stood up.
"Me too." Maria agreed and left the room.
"Emeralda, it's time to go to bed now." Elly stood up.
"Right…" Emeralda nodded and followed Elly.
"Night, guys!" Fei stood up. "See' ya in the mornin'!"
"Goodnight, everyone." Billy sighed and stood up, leaving the room.
"I'll see you guys in the morning, I guess." Karina shrugged and went to her room.
"Night!" Brad made one of those 'homie G' like signs with his fingers and left the room.
"Better not look at her straight in the eyes, Sigurd, or she may attack. Goodnight!" Jessie laughed and left the room.
"Grr!" Sierra growled and threw Sigurd on the ground. "Go sleep alone, Siggy, I'm mad at you!" She went into her room and slammed the door.
"Well.. Goodnight, Sigurd, young one." Citan sighed and left the room.
"See you in the morning, Sig- meister!" Bart grinned and ran to his room.
"Goodnight." Sigurd shrugged.
:::::::::Later That night::::::::
"Ugh…" Elly sat up and rubbed her neck. "I'm so thirsty…" She whispered and looked over on the other two beds where Maria and Emeralda were sleeping peacefully. Chu-Chu was curled up against Emeralda. "Better be quiet." Elly blinked and stepped out of bed, tiptoeing to the door. She opened the large metal door and looked around. Everything was dark and quiet. "I guess all the guys are asleep…" She whispered to herself, and walked out of her room. She walked into the kitchen and flinched when her foot landed on a spot of the floor that groaned loudly every time someone stepped on it. "Smooth move, Van Houten" She hissed in her mind. Elly walked over to the refrigerator and opened the door. "Ugh… Bart's been in here already tonight…" She looked over the various containers that were half-sealed, a sign that Bart had been there. She took out the large water filter and pulled a glass out of the cabinet. Elly poured the cold water and then put the filter back into the fridge and shut the door quickly before she could see the chocolate cheesecake that Fei had finally managed to make right and eat it all. "Okay, Elly now don't step on the—" She said to herself and then she hit the part of the floor again and the groan echoed like a foghorn. "Crap…" She flinched and went out of the kitchen. "Maybe I'll go get some fresh air before I go back to bed…" She smiled and ran up to the elevator and went up to the top deck of the ship. Elly opened up the top hatch and felt the cool night breeze hit her face. She jumped up onto the top and stepped forward. "Huh?" She blinked as she saw a shadowy figure standing at the end of the ship. She walked closer and saw the slim figure, the long light hair. "Karina! Hey! What are you doing up here?" Elly whispered. Karina didn't reply or turn around. "Karina!" She said in her normal voice. The young girl turned around slowly, her eyes vague and cloudy. "Karina, what's wrong?" Elly whispered. Karina shut her eyes for a moment and when they opened, their rim was a light silver shade, and the once small flecks of silver in her eyes were now small lines.
"….Elhayam…." Karina's voice was softer, more melodic.
"Karina? What's wrong with you? Are you OK?" Elly said worriedly.
"….Aect… Mentel… Mosun… Elhayam." Karina's mouth curved into a slight smile.
"What?!" Elly stepped back.
"Aect mentel mosun, Elhayam." Karina whispered.
"I don't understand…" Elly whispered.
"…Mishi len donet" Karina shut her eyes and stepped back, so that her feet were only two inches away from the rim of the ship.
"Karina! Don't!" Elly screamed.
"Mishi." Karina sighed and fell back. Elly's eyes widened and she stepped back.
"Karina!!!!" She screamed. "HELP!!" She screamed as loudly as she could, but she knew none of the others would hear her. "No!" She knelt down. "Karina.." She walked up to the rim and looked down. "Where did you go?" She blinked.
"I believe you want this back." A boy's voice came from behind her.
"What?!" Elly spun around. There was a young man in a white cloak. He had a hood over his face. He held Karina in his arms, her body limp. "Who are you?!" Elly demanded. "Tell me!"
"…My name isn't important, woman. Just take Karina to your doctor. 'Aect mentel mosun' means 'help me please'. And 'Mishi len donet' means 'Goodbye, dearest world.'" He said gently and set Karina on the ground. "Go now!" He said sharply and disappeared.
"…Get back here!" Elly lifted Karina up so that Karina's arm was slung over her shoulders and Elly hung onto her hand and her waist. "…Come on, Karina!" Elly shook her head and ran back into the ship.
"Help me, please!" Elly ran into the middle of the hall and called out for anyone who would answer. "HELP!" She threw her head back and screamed.
"Elly! What in god's name are you doing?! It's 2:00!" Fei walked out of his room and blinked. "What's wrong with Karina?"
"What is it?!" Maria ran out. "Miss Karina!"
"…This had better be damn good." Rico stomped out of his room. "What?"
"What is the matter, young one? What is all the fuss about?!" Citan came out of his room, shoving his glasses on his face.
"Nice p.js, Doc." Bart came out of his room. "What's the big idea, Elly?"
"Where's the fire?!" Sigurd ran out of his room with a fire extinguisher.
"….What was my beauty sleep interrupted for?!" Sierra walked in with a bathrobe on and green stuff all over her face.
"Ah! Sea hag!" Bart screamed.
"Shut up!" Sierra punched Bart in the stomach.
"Yo! What's going on?!" Brad walked out and folded his arms. "Karina! What happened?!"
"Hey hey hey! Shut UP!" Jessie walked out with a shotgun.
"Dad… What's going on?" Billy walked out of his room in sweat pants and a dark blue T-shirt and he rubbed his eyes sleepily.
"Eew! Hey, Sierra, you're growing a mold!" Jessie lifted his shotgun. "I'm afraid all we can do now is shoot it. Put the thing out of its misery."
"Stupid…" Sierra growled.
"What happened to Karina?" Billy said sleepily.
"I don't know! She said something weird and then tried to fall off the side of the ship! Some kid in--"
"Wait a minute, Elly. She said something weird and then tried to fall off the ship?" Fei said slowly. "What exactly did she say?"
"Something in an language I've never heard. But some kid in a white cloak saved her! He said that she told me to help her and then she said goodbye dearest world and then he said to take her to Citan and then he left." Elly said quickly.
"Calm down, Elly." Fei whispered.
"Hmm… That seems more than strange… Alright, Billy, take her to the infirmary and lay her on one of the beds and I will be there in one second." Citan stood up and looked at Billy.
"Right, Citan." Billy nodded and lifted Karina up.
"I need to have a word with you, Elly and you, Brad." Citan said gently.
"Just as long as my sister is okay." Brad growled.
"She should be fine." Citan reassured.
"Okay, Karina, you just lay there, and Citan will be here soon to take care of you…" Billy laid her down on one of the beds. "I really hope you'll be okay, Karina." He whispered softly. "Why is my heart beating so fast? Why am I getting knots in my stomach?" Billy shook his head and dismissed it as a nervous reaction because of Karina's condition. "Y-You seem to be breathing okay." He said gently, and he put his hand on hers. "Maybe I could…" He whispered so softly. He shut his eyes slowly and leaned closer and laid his lips over hers, gently pushing closer. He opened his eyes slowly and pulled away, blushing. "What was that??" Billy breathed heavily and staggered back.
"Billy, good job, thank you." Citan walked in.
"A-Anytime." Billy said quickly and walked over to the door.
"You can go back to bed, if you want to." Citan smiled. "We will probably have a very interesting conversation once I get our little angel to wake up.
"I think I might stay awake and see her when she wakes up." Billy shrugged.
"I think she would like that." Citan smiled. "Now, let's see, Miss Karina… Miss Karina?" He blinked confusedly as Karina sat up and blinked.
"Eshi mect Tem?" She blinked.
"What?" Citan said gently.
"Could this be the strange language Elly was talking about??" Billy said, stepping back.
"Omuni mentel gen, Billy" She stood up and walked over to Billy.
"W-What?" Billy said nervously.
"Junei mentel, Billy, mosun." Karina wrapped her arms around him and snuggled up close to him.
"…Karina…" Billy said slowly.
"Mmm…" She sighed and shut her eyes, smiling gently.
"Karina!" Billy blushed.
"Huh?" Karina's eyes shot open and she staggered back. "What?"
"You're back to normal, it would seem." Citan said, folding his arms and leaning his head to the side.
"What do you mean?!" Karina said, her voice shrill.
"Elly found you on the roof of the Yggdrasil trying to commit suicide. And then when we got you down here, you tried to grope Billy." Citan smiled. "You don't remember any of it?"
"No, why should I, either? I was asleep!" Karina walked up against the door.
"…Right. I think that maybe you should stay home today, we'll go to work." Citan shrugged.
"No way! It's partly my fault you guys have to earn this money to fix your ship!" Karina folded her arms.
"Maybe you should… Ask your parent or legal guardian." Citan said gently.
"Brad would be my 'legal guardian'." Karina grumbled. "And he'll let me go!"
"No, no, absolutely not!" Brad folded his arms.
"But Brad!!" Karina stomped her foot on the ground.
"She's like a five-year-old." Bart blinked.
"Yeah, she would go well with Billy, you little whiny brat." Jessie grinned at Billy.
"Dad, just shut up, okay?" Billy grumbled.
"…Karina, you almost got killed according to Elly and then you were speaking in a language nobody understood!" Brad said sharply.
"At least I don't have a cold!" Karina laughed gently.
"…I think almost committing suicide without knowing it is worse than a cold." Brad frowned.
"You know this could be an acute case of sleepwalking…" Citan said quietly. "Drawn from past experiences and emotions or memories."
"She's never tried to jump off a ship!" Brad turned to Citan.
"But she will have Billy and Bart with her almost all day, so if anything bad happens, they'll be there." Elly piped up.
"I'll be there too!" Jessie grinned.
"I don't think you're a very competent source of 'baby sitting'." Fei said gently.
"Baby sitting?" Karina laughed. "So now, I'm some baby that needs to be watched by those two?!" She pointed at Bart and Billy. "No offense, guys, but I think I don't need these guys watching me like I'm some toddler that doesn't know how to tie her own shoes!"
"Do you?" Bart blinked.
"…Of course I do! But that's beside the point! Brad! Lemme go lemme go LEMME GO!" Karina yelled.
"I sense a tantrum coming on." Sigurd sighed.
"You're staying home and that's final!" Brad said, pointing at the door. "Now go to your room!"
"Hmph!" Karina stomped over to the door. "I hate you, you meanie!!" She ran out of the room.
"Well, if that wasn't a sitcom moment, I don't know what is." Bart smiled.
"Well, it's 6:30… And I'm not too tired. What say we go have breakfast and then head to Cimerion?" Citan suggested.
"That's a good idea, Citan." Elly nodded and smiled.
"Whoo! I am pumped! Bring on the work!!" Bart ran down the hill. "Where's your house, Brad?" Bart turned to him and slung his red backpack around.
"Keep that away from me Bart!" Billy dodged his backpack.
"It's just over there!" Brad pointed at a large white house.
"Whoa! Its cool!" Bart laughed. "Race ya', Fei!"
"…Fine!" Fei threw his backpack into Rico's arms and followed Bart.
"Let's see… 243-6678…" Karina pulled out a white cell phone and dialed a number.
"What's that for?" Billy turned to her.
"You'll see." Karina whispered.
A few feet back:::
"Huh?" Brad looked down as his cell phone started playing Toccata. "Hello?"
"Hehe…" Karina pressed the send button. It rang for a second and then she grinned as the voice on the other end said 'Hello'. "AHHH!!! She screamed into the mouthpiece.
"Ouch!" Billy plugged his ears.
"Ahh! Karina!!" Brad's voice came from a few feet back.
"Hehe… Serves him right, that creep." Karina laughed, closing the cell phone.
"Yes! I beat you, man!!" Bart laughed wildly.
"You did not!" Fei yelled.
"Yeah, he's right. Neither of you beat me. I won!" Sierra grinned. She was perched on a tree branch eating an apple. "Apple?" She held out a bowl of fruit.
"Ah!" Bart screamed.
"You must've cheated!" Fei pointed at her.
"No, I'm just not being drug down by those fat skulls you two boys have." Sierra grinned.
"What did you get as a job, Sierra?" Fei asked gently.
"…I uh… Am working with Sigsipoo!" Sierra pointed at Sigurd.
"You doing janitorial work at some school?" Sigurd folded his arms.
"…Eew!" Sierra cringed.
"…You DID get a job, didn't you, Sierra?" Citan asked.
"Well… I uh… It was 2 beers for a buck night at the bar!" Sierra whined. "Can you blame me?!"
"You wrecked my ship and you won't even help get it fixed?!" Bart yelled. "Why didn't you get a job?"
"Fine! I'm working with Sigsipoo as a … Janitor.. Ugghh.." Sierra cringed.
"…Well, I have to stay home guys, sorry." Karina whispered and pulled out her cell phone and pressed the redial button.
"Hello?" Brad sighed.
"AHH!" Karina screamed into the mouthpiece again. "I'll take your stuff to your rooms, you guys go on ahead." Karina smiled.
"Are you sure, Karina?' Billy said, blinking.
"Sure. I gotta do something! So, I'll probably go do that and then take a swim…" Karina sighed.
"You have a POOL?!" Bart whined. "I don't wanna go to work!"
"Calm down and take responsibility, Young One." Citan whispered.
"…Wait! Before we go, I have to set a few ground rules for you boys and some for you ladies." Brad lined them up.
"Like what sort of 'ground rules'?" Fei eyed Brad.
"…Like 1) Don't touch my sister." Brad said and Karina rolled her eyes and sighed. "2) Don't touch my car. 3) Don't touch my sister…" Brad continued and Bart wrote down the rules. "…4) Don't touch my food. 5) Don't touch my sister. 6) Better not touch anything I own, including the hair. 7) Don't think about doing anything PG, PG13, R and especially X rated with my sister."
"…Hey Billy, just wait until he's asleep, then I'll help you and Karina sneak out so you can do something PG, PG13, R, or X rated in his car with his food there, too." Bart nudged Billy.
"Bart!" Billy blushed.
"You guys can swim in the pool, or the hot tub or use the mega soundsystem if you want. They are mine, not Brad's." Karina smiled and pulled out her cell phone and pressed redial.
"…Ugh.. Hello?" Brad rolled his eyes.
"AGHHH!!!" Karina screamed shrilly and then put the cell phone away.
"She doesn't take things too well, does she?" Sierra asked Sigurd.
"I guess not." Sigurd shrugged.
"Well, I should be off. My new partner Ziggy shall be expecting me there early!" Citan smiled and walked away.
"Why did Ziggy get the smart one?" Brad looked over at Fei, who was looking around in awe.
"We should get going, Bart." Billy turned to the road.
"Hold on!" Bart said.
"Boy let's go, he's gonna be late and we don't want to be late." Jessie grinned.
"Right, Dad. See you guys later." Billy smiled and left with Jessie.
"See you later, I must get to the daycare." Elly smiled and left.
"Let's get going, Fei" Brad rolled his eyes. "C'mon, we'll take my car." He walked to the garage.
"Come along, Sierra." Sigurd drug her off.
"Ohh!! WAHH!!" Sierra screamed.
"They were looking for two people to come and start work ASAP." Sigurd grinned.
"NO!" Sierra whined.
"…Where are you going, Rico?" Karina looked at him.
"I'm helping set up the area for some Cimerion Tournament for next Saturday." Rico said gently and left.
"…Well, that's everyone." Karina smiled and looked around. "I'll get these inside and get to work." She grinned. "Brad can't keep me locked up in this house all day!" She picked up a few of the backpacks and threw them in the door and then got the rest. "Hehe!" She shut the door and walked down the path slowly.
"Well, you're off now, thanks Karina, I'm so glad you're back." A woman smiled.
"I'm glad I'm back, too. Anyway, I'll see you tomorrow, okay?" Karina smiled and walked up to the door.
"Alright, have a good day." She said after Karina.
"Time to get into my other uniform and get to the bar! I wonder how Billy and Bart are doing…"
"Bart, no!" Billy grabbed a plate of food from slipping off the tray. "Why are you being so careless?!"
"Man, Billy, you are taking this job WAY too seriously." Bart grinned and balanced the tray.
"The manager pays us good money to do our jobs and I am doing my job!" Billy scolded.
"What exactly is a flamin' special?" A man leaned over on the bar.
"It's a little bit of scotch mixed with bourbon and mixed by lighting the top on fire!" Jessie folded his arms.
"Oh… Can you add a little white wine with it?" The man asked.
"Sure, whatever, is that what you want?" Jessie said, sounding rather agitated.
"Oh, no, I'll have a bloody mary." The man laughed.
"Try living with him." A young man muttered.
"Okay, I'll be right back with your drinks." Billy smiled and walked towards the kitchen.
"Whoa!" Bart walked by and stumbled slightly.
"Bart!!" Billy grabbed him and steadied him.
"Hey, guys!" Karina ran in.
"Karina? Aren't you supposed to be at home?" Billy blinked.
"Shut up, Billy, you got drinks to get!" Bart shoved him out of the way. "I'll get this one."
"No, I'm coming to work!" Karina walked past Bart.
"Wait wait wait wait, girl!" Bart grabbed her by the collar.
"What, Bart?" She sighed.
"…Your brother would have my head on a platter if he knew I was letting you work, Karina." Bart folded his arms.
"Brad won't even know the difference! We'll get home long before he does!" Karina grinned and walked past Bart.
"Karina, I don't think you should be working, what with last night." Billy walked by and stopped long enough to whisper to her.
"Billy, I'm fine." Karina said, obviously not caring about his warning.
"…I know you're fine, but you should still stay at home just in case." Billy walked back up to her and folded his arms. "You know how bad I would feel if I knew you got hurt and I couldn't help you."
"…I know you're mad about me, Billy." Karina said playfully. "And that's so cute! But I'm fine, and nothing is going to happen, trust me!"
"Wha?!" Billy turned to her and blushed.
****************
"Alright, Fei, pull the lever." Brad called.
"Which one?!" Fei looked down at Brad.
"…The big red one, Fei. Is that simple enough for you?" Brad rolled out from under the car and glared at Fei.
"This one?" Fei pulled a small red lever.
"No, Fei! Not that-" Brad stood up as Fei pulled the lever. The car slammed back down on the ground and oil spilled out of the bottom.
"…Was that the right one?" Fei blinked.
"Grr…. No Fei, It wasn't." Brad said slowly. He looked over at Ziggy and Citan. "Hey, Ziggy!!"
"Yeah, Mon?" He turned to Brad and grinned.
"…I was thinking. You wanna change partners for a minute?" Brad suggested and grinned, pointing at Fei who was pulling levers and pushing buttons, trying to get the car to go back up on the lift.
"Uh, I don't think so, Mon, that guy doesn't seem very competent." Ziggy sighed.
"Well, Citan can't be a very good partner! I mean he like never shuts up, right?! Fei is very quiet! And he's a good help!" Brad put his arm on Ziggy's shoulder. "…And this is just between you and me, but he's been stealing money from you, dude."
"Not nearly as much money as you steal from me, Brad." Ziggy glared at him.
"…That's beside the point!" Brad laughed.
"Well, I think I'm doing fine with Citan as my partner. He can fix a car in half the time it takes me." Ziggy grinned.
"Yeah, right." Brad sighed.
"Isn't it about time for our lunch break, right, Brad?" Fei grabbed his rumbling stomach.
"…I guess, hey, Ziggy, we're gonna go eat lunch wanna come with us?" Brad turned to him.
"Well, I guess, you want to come, Citan?" Ziggy turned to Citan, who was wiping his grimy face and putting his glasses back on.
"Huh? Oh, of course, young ones, I'd be happy to." Citan smiled.
"Yo, Mon, does 'dis guy have some problem with saying my name?" Ziggy folded his arms. "What is up with 'tis 'young one' crud?"
"He is just like that with people younger than him." Fei grinned.
"Well, I am 23 years old, and he cannot 'all me a 'young one'!" Ziggy growled.
"Don't let it get to ya." Fei rolled his eyes. "Anyway, let's go."
"Why don't we go have lunch at the bar?" Citan suggested.
"Yeah, drop in on Billy, Jessie and Bart and see how they are holding out. Rico said he was gonna go there for lunch around 2:30… He should be there." Fei nodded.
"Alright, let's go there for lunch." Brad walked over to the door.
****************
"Hey, Rico man! I'll take your order!" Bart walked up to him.
"…You are incompetent, get Billy." Rico shoved him out of the way.
"Hey, I'll take the next one and- eep! Rico!" Karina walked up to them and then hid behind Billy. "He didn't see me, right?"
"Hey, Karina. I don't care if you are working or not, just don't let your insane brother catch you." Rico sat back.
"G- Gotcha." Karina nodded and left.
"So, Rico, what can I get you?" Billy pushed Bart out of the way.
"Man, Billy takes this job to heart!" Bart whispered.
"…Well, he just likes to see that something is done correctly and quickly, I suppose." Karina walked by.
"Hey, waiter!" Fei walked in and pointed at Bart. "SERVE ME!"
"…Ugh, I see one of those stupid annoying customers." Jessie folded his arms.
"Hey, Fei, just cause I'm your waiter gives you no right to boss me around!" Bart walked up to him. "Let's see, one whiny brat, one king kong, one genius and one…. Err… dude with a heavy accent." Bart pointed at them. "I think we got enough room for you, come on." Bart made a gesture for them to follow him and he walked to a booth where Rico was sitting. "Sit and tell me what you want to drink, guys."
"Just…. Water." Citan blinked.
"Cherry coke, Bart, you know what I always drink!" Fei folded his arms.
"Billy already got mine." Rico growled. "I was smart and got someone that can read."
"Give me a coke." Brad ordered.
"Ugh, well, fine, Mr. I Rule All." Bart muttered.
"I'll just have tea." Ziggy grinned.
"Right, got it." Bart nodded. "And I'll be back with your drinks in a minute." He threw menus on the table and walked off.
"Hey, you guys didn't come visit me!" Jessie walked up and sat down next to Citan. "Ahh, thank god I'm on break."
"…Here, Rico is your-- Oh, hey guys, did Bart already get your order?" Billy walked up.
"Yeah, hey Billy-man!" Fei did a thumbs up sign.
"Hi… Dad, you're on break?" Billy set down Rico's drink.
"Yeah, and so are you, boy, pull up a seat!" Jessie smacked the spot next to him.
"…Well, I guess rush hour is over, considering you guys are the only ones here, I guess I could take a break." Billy shrugged and sat down next to Jessie.
"Hey, guys, I got your drinks and I'll take your orders now if- Billy! What are you doing?!" Bart set down the drinks folded his arms. "You were the one who was preaching about how important it is to work hard!"
"I took care of my last order already, I'm done until more people come in or until I get off at 4:30." Billy smiled.
"…Grr… Oh, well, gimme your orders, and then I'll just hang with you guys until they are ready!" Bart growled and pulled a pen out of his braid.
"Sigsipoo! Don't make me go back to that crap ridden brat teaching establishment!!" Sierra whined as the two walked in.
"…Sierra, you need to learn how to have an honest job, not being a mercenary." Sigurd said gently.
"Take your honest job and shove it up your butt, honey dew." Sierra said sarcastically.
"Billy, take that one, you're off break!" Bart yelled.
"Yeah, sure, Bart." Billy stood up. "Hey, Siggy, how's the job going?" Billy walked up to Sigurd.
"Alright." Sigurd said simply.
"It's living hell! Little brats running around pulling my braids and calling me an old hag! I got in trouble cause I got pissed and hit one of 'em with the mop that had cleaned up their disgusting amazingly rainbow colored puke! The little brat puked and then laughed at me and said 'clean it up, monkey woman!' I am going to kill the next kid that says I look like their 55 year-old mother!!" Sierra screamed.
"Oh, I see the customer is a banshee. Sorry, but we don't serve monsters here." Bart walked out of the kitchen.
"I am not in the mood, jerk!" Sierra kicked him in the shin.
"God, back off, mad cow." Bart flinched.
"…Bart, get back in there. C'mon, Siggy, wanna sit with Fei and Citan and Brad and…. Ziggy?" Billy walked him over to them.
"C'mon, pull up a seat!" Jessie grinned.
"Well…. Alright." Sigurd sat down next to Jessie and slumped.
"Uh…. Sig… No offense or anything but… Could you scoot down a little, ya kinda stink." Jessie said gently.
"Wouldn't YOU if you were cleaning toilets all day?" Sigurd folded his arms and scooted further away from Jessie.
"Poor kid. I was serving drinks to guys who don't know a thing about alcohol." Jessie growled.
"Okay! I'm back! Now give me your orders or you ain't getting' any food!" Bart grinned.
"….Is there anything on this menu that ISN'T slathered in grease?" Citan blinked.
"Possibly the salad, but it's my first day, I wouldn't know." Billy piped up.
"Get in the kitchen, boy!" Bart pointed at the kitchen door.
"Whatever." Billy rolled his eyes and left.
"Alright…. I'll just have a salad…. With… ranch dressing." Citan smiled.
"And for you, Fei?" Bart smiled rather sarcastically.
"…What do YOU like?!" Fei leaned over.
"I work here, I HAVE to say everything is good. But I had… Uh… That stuff for lunch today, and it was okay, I guess." Bart pointed at a picture.
"Okay, I'll have that…" Fei threw the menu at him. "Go, slave monkey, go!" Fei yelled.
"Get me the steak, kid, and I want it medium, okay?" Brad glared at Bart.
"Got it, King Kong." Bart glared back at him.
"…Give me the steak too, Mon, and Medium rare!" Ziggy grinned.
"Whatever, and Billy'll get Sierra and Sig's." Bart grinned. "Cause they are HIS customers."
"Back off, Bart." Billy walked up. "What do you two wanna drink?"
"Tea." Sigurd smiled at the boy.
"Jessiah! You know my 'Sierra-Era' special! Go make it!" Sierra grinned at Jessie.
"Oh, yes, that stuff. I swear you're nuts for wanting something THAT hard before you go back to work." Jessie stood up. "Go get that sissy Sigurd's 'tea', boy!" Jessie slapped Billy on the back.
"Hey, I got one- AHH!" Karina walked out and saw Brad and then ran behind Billy, dropping the food on the table gently.
"Ahh… Lunch." Rico grinned and grabbed the plate.
"Was that…. Karina?!" Brad stood up.
"…He didn't see me, did he?" Karina whispered in Billy's ear, making the boy shiver.
"…I'm pretty sure he did…" Pink slowly crept up Billy's face. Karina slipped her hand under his jacket and ran her hand up his back. She grabbed his shoulder. She took her other hand and pulled his arm out of the sleeve. With one hand she held Billy's arm behind his back and with the other she slipped her arm down his sleeve and waved slightly.
"…Uh… hey, guys…. Umm… There's no… Karina here… Haha, nope." Karina lowered her voice slightly. Citan smiled and Fei snickered. Billy rolled his eyes and sighed, trying to hide the dark pink shade on his face.
"…That's just creepy." Sierra blinked.
"Get over here, young lady!" Brad grabbed Karina and pulled her to the side, almost ripping Billy's jacket off.
"H-Hi, Brad!" Karina giggled innocently. "Want some…. Hehe… Appetizers? We have…" Karina trailed off.
"Kari…. I thought I told you NOT to go to work today, because of last night." Brad growled.
"I felt fine, and I didn't wanna be stuck in that house all day by myself!" Karina folded her arms.
"We have two dogs a kitten and a POOL for god's sake! Use those for entertainment!" Brad looked at his little sister and tapped his foot impatiently.
"How did you take care of them when you were staying with us?" Citan blinked.
"Our next door neighbor comes over to feed them while we are away. Brad was gone on a job for a few days, so she was taking care of them, and she doesn't know we are back. We're gonna have to go get them in a little while." Karina looked over at Citan.
"I see." Citan nodded.
"Hey, guys! I got your foooooood!" Bart pranced up. "You'll have to answer some questions first! One! Who's the hottest king in the world?"
"…Certainly not you." Fei teased.
"I'll ignore that, acknowledging the fact that the person who spoke the words is a complete nincompoop, so being the sweet person that I am, I will not entertain his ignorance." Bart growled.
"…. Yeah, right Bart." Billy smiled.
"Question numero dos!" Bart grinned. "Who does Billy have the hots for?!"
"Better not be my sister…" Brad glared at Billy.
"I know! It's Karina right?!" Fei grinned.
"FEI!" Billy blushed.
"I speak the truth, dude." Fei grinned.
"Get a better vocabulary other that 'dude' and 'yo'…" Billy whispered.
And I don't have the…. 'Hots'… For anyone."
"Give us our food before I shove this fork up your belly button and twist it in." Brad said, gently poking his fork into the table.
"I saw Karina and Billy sleeping together this morning." Bart grinned.
"……..Excuse me?" Brad said gently, as the fork drove into table quickly.
"Hehehehehe… So they didn't tell you?!" Bart cackled.
"What would they NEED to tell me?" Brad winced at the thought.
"BART! You know we didn't-" Billy started.
"Shshsh!" Bart shushed. "Quiet little bowl-cutted one. Now! As I was saying, I came in this morning and they were like groping each other." Bart grinned.
"…Groping?!" Brad screamed.
"Brad! N-n-no! We weren't!!" Billy whined.
"…NO DUH, Brad, do you think I'm a hussy or something?" Karina folded her arms.
"Of course not!" Brad lowered his tone slightly.
"Well, good!" Karina hissed.
"…I have to go kill myself now…" Billy walked off, blushing.
"…Brad, don't overreact so much." Karina whacked Brad upside the head.
"Not the hair!
"Man, you could gut someone with that hair! It's cool!" Bart pointed at Brad's spiky blue hair.
"I styled his hair…" Karina smiled.
"Actually Kajumei ruined it and then you fixed it." Brad corrected.
"Yeah, that's right." Karina shrugged.
"…You guys, you know we'll never earn enough money soon… It'll be almost another four weeks on our salary…" Bart sighed.
"…You do realize I'm not helping them for four weeks, Karina?" Brad glanced at her.
"Oh… It is going to take a lot of time maybe there is something else we could do." Karina whispered.
"…I know!" Jessie grinned.
"Jesiah, I know what you are thinking and we are not getting drunk and playing our luck at a casino, no matter how much you want it, it's not going to happen." Citan sighed.
"Ohh…" Jessie sighed.
"Hey, Rico, you said you were working for some tournament?" Bart looked up.
"Yeah, so?"
"What tournament?" Citan looked up.
"…He must be talking about the Cimerion Champions fighting tournament held every year on the opening day of the fair." Karina blinked.
"You mean the one Kajumei has been sweeping every time for the past six years?" Brad looked at her.
"Yeah." Karina looked at Brad.
"…Is there prize money offered for the victor of the games?" Citan asked.
"Normally. Hehe, last time, Kajumei and I went out on this shopping spree and I got this cute pair of jeans and… Nevermind, it's a long story. We got a lot of stuff. But one normally gets around 700,000 for winning, it's pretty good reward money." Karina smiled.
"I think I'm ready to… Go home…" Billy slumped.
"What's up with you?" Bart looked at him.
"I couldn't sleep very well last night because of certain snoring sleep-singing prince-pirates who shall remain nameless." Billy glared at Bart. "Who could that possibly have been, BART?"
"Fei, I thought I gave you breathe-right strips so you DIDN'T snore!" Bart glared at Fei.
"…Oops." Fei blinked.
"…Boys, please. Miss Karina, tell me more about this tournament." Citan shut his eyes and sighed.
"Well… It is being held next Saturday… Around 6:30 P.M.… After that the Champion and everyone else goes to the fair and then we all watch the fireworks. It's really fun!" Karina said gently. "…But other than that… Sorry."
"…Hmm… Fei!" Citan turned to Fei.
"Yeah, Doc?" Fei blinked.
"Do yo think… We could get you to enter the tournament and win the prize money…?" Citan asked.
"…YEAH! Fei! C'mon!! Be nice!!" Bart looked up and grinned at Fei. "PLLLLLEEEEASE?!"
"…Uhh… Guys… I've done all the special stuff! Why can't we make Rico or Bart do anything?!" Fei sat up.
"Be-cause! You are the most multitalented of us all!" Bart grinned. "Who else can knock a guy out with our hair?"
"Or balance a flaming spoon on his tongue and juggle chain saws at the same time?" Billy added.
"I CAN do those, can't I?" Fei smiled and flipped his ponytail playfully. "But you can braid your hair with your toes, Bart!"
"Ooo! I'll braid them to death! Come on, Fei, you're the only one who can fight in the way we need!" Bart rolled his eyes.
"I can fight like Fei, too." Citan said gently.
"You might put your back out, Citan."
"Why I never!" Citan yelled.
"Hehe." Bart grinned.
"I just… Don't want to, okay?" Fei said gently. "It may sound like I'm a sissy, but, if that Kajumei chick is in it, she might kick my butt, I mean, she's won, what, six times?"
"…So, you're backing down cause you're scared of a GIRL?" Bart rolled his eyes. "Fei, Fei, Fei…"
"Kajumei isn't just a GIRL, she is a champion FIGHTER." Karina corrected.
"And she probably WOULD kick your sissy butt, kid, but she ain't in this year's competition, cause she's gone visiting her sick Granny." Brad folded his arms.
"Kajumei doesn't HAVE a granny…" Karina thought and shut her eyes.
"See, Fei? You could enter and get us money!!" Bart hit Fei's shoulder and smiled. "Save us all the trouble of working our frickin' butts off!"
"…I guess… I could… SURE!" Fei said slowly and then stood up. "I'll show them!" Fei looked down. "I have to go train!"
"GO!" Brad grinned. "Great. Now I won't have to deal with this kid."
"I'm sorry that I couldn't help you, Brad." Fei said gently.
"Won't Elly be kinda mad about this?" Karina said, standing up from the chair. "I mean… you didn't even ask her if-"
"Elly don't order my man FEI around, right Fei?" Bart grinned and punched Fei in the shoulder.
"O-Of course…" Fei said slowly.
"Of course? That ain't manly, Fei." Bart laughed.
"I mean.. 'Hell yeah, dude!' Happy?"
"Ugh… Fei, proper grammar is-" Citan said, but Bart cut him off.
"Hell yeah! Now let's go train! Okay?!"
"O..Kay…" Fei said slowly.
"There isn't any CONFIDENCE in that!"
"Bart, you still have work to do, you get off at 4:30!" Billy said.
"Tut tut! CONFIDENCE!"
"OK?"
"Scare me!"
"OK!!"
"Better…"
"Yeah!!!" Fei yelled and jumped out of the booth.
"If you ask me the whole idea is stupid." Billy said gently.
"Manners, boy." Jessie poked Billy in the ribs.
"…." Billy glared at Jessie.
"B-But… You guys have jobs, you can't just run off like that, can you?" Karina said, trying to get their attention.
"Okay Fei, we gotta goooooo!!!" Bart yelled and ran out of the bar, dragging Fei along with him.
"Shouldn't we have some form of adult supervision for those two? I mean.. If it were up to them, training would be taping Fei to one of the propellers of the Yggdrasil and turning it on and seeing how long Fei can last before he throws up…" Rico said quietly.
"…I do believe they will find that long meditation is a good training technique. It clears the mind." Citan smiled.
"If it were Bart and Fei meditating, it would take a few months to clear their minds of all the garbage in there…" Rico added.
"I am afraid I must concur with you, Rico." Citan chuckled.
"True dat, yo." Ziggy grinned.
"In case you didn't NOTICE Ziggy, you're supposed to be at work… Leave." Karina pointed at the door.
"B-But I just got my food!" Ziggy whined.
"GO!" Karina growled.
"Mmm mean lady. You'd better go out with me later." Ziggy stood up. "It would do a lot for my reputation if a popular girl like you would go out with me!"
"….Out." Karina squinted.
"That's right, Ziggy." Brad stood up and pushed Ziggy out the door.
"But if you just-" Ziggy tried to say as he stuck his head back in the door.
"ZIGGY." Karina and Brad snapped.
"Point across, sheesh." Ziggy pouted and left.
"Later." Brad winked and pushed Billy out of the doorway.
"Excuse me for trying to keep the door open for you…" Billy sneered. Karina sat up from her spot and turned to Billy and looked down.
"Hey, Billy?" Karina walked up to him.
"Yeah…?"
"Can we talk about something??" Karina whispered and took him behind the door.
"Huh?" Billy looked around and back up at Karina. "What is it?"
"Be quiet." Karina whispered. "OK, the thing is…"
"…?"
Karina sighed, leaned against the wall and looked at Billy. "The men who are after me are after me for my blood, as you know… They took me when I was 15, and I told Brad to not worry about me… I told him to stay back and that they would let me go… They didn't, of course, but when I did get sent out.. I guess to attack you guys and I was saved by you… After I woke up I remembered so much about everything. I heard them talking- them being the men that took me- and they were talking about some sort of Day of the Sublime Light… Something about three pillars, and something about an RN blood type…"
"RN isn't a blood type, Karina…"
"I know I know!" Karina yelled. "The thing is… They said I have the RN blood type… and that two others have it… And most likely Brad has it too… So that leaves one more…" Karina said in a hushed voice. "A person I got to know on that ship, Zeke, told me that this blood type is connected to the -blessed creatures- and that this whole operation is code-named Operation: RN B-C Kuluxx-Z 03 and I don't know if that has any significance but…"
"Wait… Kuluxx?" Billy stopped her.
"Yeah… why?"
"I remember hearing something about a Kuluxx in my research of the Ethos religion… But then It can't be real… Ethos was a front… But what was it I read about that I heard that phrase before…?? Kuluxx…"
"I don't know… but Billy… Lately I've been feeling some sort of pulling sensation from inside… From my heart… and these dreams I've been having… People whispering in some unknown language… bloody feathers… black feathers… silver feathers… I don't know what any of it means and it's scaring me…"
"Have you talked to Brad about it, Karina?" Billy whispered.
"No! …Well I will… But I haven't yet…" Karina said gently. "I will when we talk later."
"Karina… Have you had any other dreams??"
"… Yes… but… That one I can't make any sense of at all." She looked up and faced his ice-blue eyes.
"What?"
"It had… Someone whispering in the unknown language, then another saying 'All you see, is not always what is really seen… Follow your heart… Follow the threads of time… Run your own life the way you want… For when the Mirror's reflections appear, your end is near… And the wings of time will beat, steadily dying down, the future will be nothing but the bloody earth and one pillar of light will be gone, one pillar of darkness will be lost, one pillar of the soul will slip into the darkness of the human soul…' and that's about it…"
"Karina…" Billy trailed off. "Maybe you should talk to Citan about this… and of course your brother…" He turned to her and looked down. "It may be best…"
"Hey lovebirds!!" Bart's booming voice broke the silence and the door swung open.
"Bart?? I thought you left!" Karina blinked.
"Hah! You gotta come help me train Fei!!" Bart grinned. "Come on come on!"
"Bart…" Karina and Billy moaned.
The three exited the dark room, and a deeper shadow filled it. A young man with a long white robe folded his arms and leaned against the wall, flashing his dark gray eyes at the door and glaring into the darkness. "Ashes to ashes, dust to dust… The year of death has begun… and now all hell will break loose… But can these stupid little children save us…? I don't trust their strength."